Spicy Cheddar Palmiers Food

SAVORY PALMIERS

Steps:

• Lightly flour a board and carefully unfold one sheet of puff pastry. Roll the pastry lightly with a rolling pin until it's 9 1/2 by 11 1/2-inches. Spread the sheet of puff pastry with half the pesto, then sprinkle with half the goat cheese, half the sundried tomatoes, and half the pine nuts. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Working from the short ends, fold each end halfway to the center. Then fold each side again towards the center until the folded edges almost touch. Fold one side over the other and press lightly. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat the entire instructions for the second sheet of puff pastry using the remaining ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut the prepared rolls of puff pastry in 1/4 inch thick slices and place them face up 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 14 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm.
• Place the walnuts, pignolis, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 30 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is finely pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Serve, or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

PALMIERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Combine the sugar and kosher salt. Pour 1 cup of the sugar/salt mixture on a flat surface such as wooden board or marble. Unfold each sheet of puff pastry onto the sugar and pour 1/2 cup of the sugar mixture on top, spreading it evenly on the puff pastry. This is not about sprinkling, it's about an even covering of sugar. With a rolling pin, roll the dough until it's 13 by 13-inches square and the sugar is pressed into the puff pastry on top and bottom. Fold the sides of the square towards the center so they go halfway to the middle. Fold them again so the two folds meet exactly at the middle of the dough. Then fold 1 half over the other half as though closing a book. You will have 6 layers. Slice the dough into 3/8-inch slices and place the slices, cut side up, on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Place the second sheet of pastry on the sugared board, sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar mixture, and continue as above. (There will be quite a bit of sugar left over on the board.) Slice and arrange on baking sheets lined with parchment.
• Bake the cookies for 6 minutes until caramelized and brown on the bottom, then turn with a spatula and bake another 3 to 5 minutes, until caramelized on the other side. Transfer to a baking rack to cool.

HERB-CHEESE PALMIERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry to a 10-by-16-inch rectangle. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with cheddar, Parmesan, herbs, and salt. Fold dough lengthwise into thirds (like a letter), then fold in half. Refrigerate until slightly firm, about 10 minutes. Cut dough crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices (you should have about 38).
• Place slices on 2 large baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. (To store, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate, up to 1 day.) In a bowl, combine egg yolk with water. Brush tops of palmiers with egg wash. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through.

SPICY CHEDDAR PALMIERS

Steps:

• In a small bowl stir together chili powder, brown sugar, cayenne, and salt. On a work surface sprinkled with 2 tablespoons parsley roll out 1 sheet puff pastry into a 12-inch square. Sprinkle square evenly with half of spice mixture and 3/4 cup Cheddar, pressing cheese gently onto pastry. Roll up 1 edge to middle of pastry sheet and roll up parallel edge in same manner so that the 2 rolls are touching. Repeat procedure with remaining parsley, pastry sheet, spice mixture, and Cheddar. Wrap pastry rolls in plastic wrap and chill 30 minutes. Pastry rolls may be made 2 weeks ahead and frozen, wrapped well in refrigerator 2 hours before proceeding.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Cut pastry rolls with a sharp knife crosswise into slices just under 1/2 inch thick and arrange 1 inch apart on large baking sheets. Bake palmiers in batches in middle of oven 20 minutes, or until golden brown, and transfer with a metal spatula to racks to cool.

APPLE CHEDDAR PALMIERS

Steps:

• Preheat a skillet to medium-high. Saute the apples and shallots in butter for 3-5 minutes. Add the nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.
• Lay each piece of puff pastry on its own piece of parchment paper and roll them lightly.
• Top both pieces with apple mixture and distribute evenly. Then top with them with shredded cheese.
• Fold the pastry sheets inward ¼ of the width on both ends. Fold in again so that the dough meets in the middle. Fold one more time.
• Wrap the rolls in the paper and put the rolls in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to chill before cutting. (Wrap them well if you are prepping ahead).
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Carefully slice each roll into 12-15 ½ inch slices and lay flat on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Whisk the egg and brush it over the tops. Bake for 12-14 minutes.
• Cool before lifting!

SPICY CHEDDAR CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in large bowl; cover and let stand until cheeses soften, about 1 hour.
• Using electric mixer, beat cheese mixture until fluffy, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl.
• Spoon cheese into a crock.
• (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.).